The Intermediate Plateau 

The chances are that if you are listening to, or reading this then you are interested in improving your English. 

How would you currently define your level of English? How many words do you think you know? It would be curious to find out, wouldn’t it? Can you express everything you want to say in the way you want to say it? 

According to statistics, you need just 800 words to have a basic level of English. If you know between 1,000-3,000 words, that is enough to have everyday conversations. Native speakers know around 15,000-20,000 words so we could say that if you know around 8,000 + you are on course to becoming proficient.

Many of you will have been learning English for many years and no doubt, at some stage you have wanted to throw in the towel. 

You see, in the beginning, when you first start learning a language, it’s easy to see the progress. You learn the colours, the alphabet, the verb to be, the adjectives, how to talk about the weather, etc. and all of this motivates and you can see little by little the foundations of English being built.  However, once you have mastered the basics and you can express yourself reasonably well, it can be hard to get better and move on from that. Why? Because you are in your comfort zone. You can more or less get your message across, you have a way of learning and retaining knowledge that you are used to it. Your brain has got used to it. This is dangerous. The brain likes a challenge. It hates monotony. 

So, you want to progress and you want to improve but you feel that no matter what you do, you aren’t. 

You feel like (colloquial expression alert!*) you are pissing in the wind*. It’s frustrating, I get you! If you find yourself in this situation, I want you to know that it is perfectly normal. It’s a perfectly normal part of the language-learning process.

 It’s called the intermediate plateau. 

What is the intermediate plateau?

Plateau by definition means according to the Cambridge English Dictionary is: To reach a particular level and then stay the same. 

Language learning is a process. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, patience, consistency, and motivation, but it’s hard to stick to it when it feels like you are getting nowhere. 

In order to take things up a notch and skyrocket your English level you need to think about learning in a different way. Here I think it is really important to first underline that there are two types of learning; passive vs. active. 

Active and Passive Learning

Passive learning is when you put on a series on Netflix or a video on Youtube and watch it with the subtitles. Passive learning is when you read a book or an article in English. Passive learning is when you listen to a podcast in English. 

Active learning is just that. It’s active. Rather than sitting on the sofa and absorbing some of the information you are receiving, it is taking the information and using it. This is what is going to really make a difference to your level over time. Active learning will allow you to not just understand things, but to be able to reproduce them. 

How on earth can you turn all passive learning into active learning?

Imagine you want to watch a series on Netflix / listen to a podcast / read an article, that’s great. Rather than sitting on the sofa absorbing the information, you need to be doing something actively and what that would mean would be taking notes while you are doing it. NOTES, not write down all the details or copy word for word. Write down new words/expressions/ grammar structures you would like to investigate more deeply. Once you have done that, HERE is the key to active learning; You need to make sure that you are able to explain what you have just watched/listened to/written/read / or understood to someone else.  If no one is prepared to listen to you / read what you write then you need to be able to explain it to your cat/dog or your teddy bear. This is the key because it proves that you have understood it. Being able to reproduce something and explain it in as much detail as possible means that you have fully understood it. 

Keep on listening for more tips on how you can get through the intermediate plateau. 

How to get through the intermediate plateau

Before I give you some tips on how to get through this nasty intermediate plateau, I’d like you to answer these questions honestly. 

Do you prefer speaking in person or via audio chats?

Do you prefer writing messages/emails to speaking in person / or sending audio chats? 

Whatever your answer was, you should do the exact opposite. Yep! If you said you prefer writing an email to speaking to someone directly then, I’m sorry but you need to take the bull by the horns and get speaking. Writing is obviously in your comfort zone. Get out of it! The brain hates monotony and likes excitement and adrenalin! That is what is going to fuel motivation. 

The things that you are less inclined to do are your weak areas. Do the things you don’t like doing and push yourself. 

So, basically what I want to say is that there is no magic potion for overcoming the intermediate plateau but you have to work hard, and been consistent. 

Here are some things that you must consider doing if you want to overcome the hump in the road. 

Change the way you have been doing things up to now. Stop buying all the textbooks full of grammar exercises. Those books aren’t as up-to-date as the authentic content you can find on the Internet. Language is life. It’s to be used, it’s not just about textbooks. Find things that are fun to do. Play video games in English, do yoga to an English Youtube video, cook that recipe written in English! Mix things up! Keep the brain active.  

Focus on why you really want to improve your level. What would it really mean to you? Keep asking yourself why like a 3-year-old child until you get to the REAL reason. 

Why?

-I want to be able to speak English on the phone. 

-Why? Because I want to understand when people talk to me and not worry or get stressed

-Why? Because, if I do that, I will be able to get a better job, more money, and more prospects.

-What would earning more money or having better prospects mean to you?

-I’d be able to take my family on a trip of a lifetime. 

There you go! That is the real motivation to learn English. The core. The real reason. 

Make sure you record yourself or keep a copy of something you have written at the beginning of this intermediate plateau. When you look back maybe after a year you will be able to see your progress and that will keep you motivated. 

Pareto’s Principle

And finally,  remember Pareto’s principle: Focus on 20% of methods to produce 80% of results. Your progress to advancing your level will be a lot quicker. 

This principle is amazing because it will allow you to focus on what is important, focus on resources that really give you value and help you with your language, and challenge you, as well. Being able to make things more effortless but see results means that your motivation will not be lost. 

These things won’t happen overnight. Be realistic. Keep going. It’s a process. 

Don’t give up. Success is for the brave!

That’s all for this week folks! Thanks so much for reading and listening. I hope you enjoyed this week’s Woodside Weekly. If you did, please like and share with friends and family. Your support means a lot!

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